"I've spent my money in preparing the quite expensive construction and environmental management plan, which has been available on the council's website and on the Tasmanian Planning Commission's website."

"So I'm in the position of somebody who's got approval to put a bridge over a river, for example, that for some reason or other the Government hasn't done, and I'm saying: 'Look, I've got the plans, I've got the approval, yes, I need some investors ... to put a bridge over the river.'

"But more importantly I need some cargo to put across that, that's prepared to pay a toll."

There has been widespread public opposition to the proposal, which included the construction of road access for heavy trucks to a 25-metre jetty.

The Huon Valley Council was split on the issue and rejected the proposal after a vote in January.

The Tasmanian Planning Commission, which will now make a determination, then asked council to reconsider and vote again on the proposal.

Concerns for aquaculture industry

Huon Valley Mayor Peter Coad told ABC 936 Mornings he expressed his concerns about the proposal at last night's meeting.

Mr Coad said the council approved an amendment which allowed the discharge of ballast water into the Huon River.

"You must imagine these barges are 100 metres long, 125 metres wide, you have thousands of litres of potentially contaminated water going into the Huon River, where we've got our aquaculture industry, which could be affected," he said.

"It's been very controversial. Even last night's meeting was quite a heated debate in relation to the issue. It wasn't overwhelming by any means. It went down to a 5-4 vote."

Since the Triabunna woodchip mill closed on Tasmania's east coast, mill logs had been trucked north to Bell Bay for export.

It was claimed the inability to ship woodchips from southern Tasmania stymied the industry.